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Chief investigators who brought a predatory ring of paedophiles to justice have praised the courage of the victims who came forward decades after they were abused.

During the 1980s a sick gang of perverts groomed five vulnerable young boys aged between 11-15, plying them with booze, the “poppers” drug and pornographic videos, before passing them around to sexually abuse them.

However a brave victim came forward early on in 2012, shortly after Operation Pallial was launched to investigate historic allegations of child abuse in the North Wales care system, sparking a lengthy inquiry which ultimately led to trial at Mold Crown Court.

And after tireless hours sifting through the evidence by Operation Pallial officers, the courage of victims who came forward to help put those responsible behind bars, could not be praised enough by senior investigating officer Ian Mulcahey.

Mark Grainger, formerly known as Gary Cooke, aged 64, from Galway Road, Leicester, was convicted of 11 charges of indecent assault, three charges of serious sexual assault and two charges of indecency with a child; David Lightfoot, aged 72, a Wrexham publican in the 1980s from Parklands View, Little Sutton, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, was convicted of six charges of indecent assault on a male, two serious sexual assault charges, and one attempted serious sexual assault. But he was cleared of a charge of indecency with a child and former local radio presenter Roy Norry, aged 55, from Hamilton Road, Connah’s Quay, was convicted of five charges of indecent assault on a male, one charge of serious sexual assault and was cleared of one charge of attempted serious sexual assault and one indecent assault. All three were remanded in custody pending sentence.

Neil Phoenix, 63, of Windsor Road, New Broughton, Wrexham, was found guilty of the one charge he faced, indecent assault on a boy at the home of Gary Cooke and former Metropolitan police officer Julian Huxley, 70, who at the time worked as a civil servant at Wrexham Barracks, was convicted of two charges of indecent assault on the main complainant, by a 10 to two majority. Both were bailed pending sentencing.

Retired teacher and former children’s home owner Roger Griffiths, 76, of Coed Efa Lane, New Broughton, Wrexham, was cleared of two charges of indecent assault on the main complainant and Keith Stokes, 62, a former haulier and abattoir manager, from Quarry Hill in Farndon, Chester, was found not guilty of three charges of indecent assault, one charge of serious sexual assault, one charge of attempted serious sexual assault and one charge of indecency with a child.

Mr Mulcahey said: “The victims in this case were aged between 11 and 15 years of age and they were abused by a predatory ring of paedophiles who operated in the Wrexham area during the 1980s.

“The majority of the abuse primarily took place at the home of one of the defendant’s Gary Cooke in Brymbo.

“A number of other residential premises have also featured in the inquiry and licensed premises known as Snowys has also featured in Wrexham town centre.

“The five boys were young, vulnerable, sometimes isolated by family circumstances and manipulated by this group.

“They were no doubt chosen for these reasons and were groomed using a variety of treats including alcohol, car trips, pornography and above all attention.

“They were sexually abused and passed around by the group.

“Those convicted at Mold Crown Court operated as a predatory group of paedophiles who took advantage of vulnerable young boys and abused them.”

Mr Mulcahey said the range of occupations could not have been more different. But their real common interest lay in the abuse of young children.

“Their grooming was carefully planned and single-minded and continued over a single period of the victims’ childhoods,” he said.

“The victims in this case have been brave in coming forward, firstly to speak to Operation Pallial and lastly to give evidence at the Crown Court and I would like to personally thank them for the courage that they have shown.”

Mr Mulcahey added: “I’m satisfied that this was a predatory paedophile ring that was operating in the Wrexham area during the 1980s.

“Gary Cooke was a prominent member of this group. He clearly had influence over both children and men and was a prominent person in grooming young boys and abusing them.”

“The vulnerability of the victims made them easy prey for the gang and on some occasions, victims were given alcohol before the abuse took place, most of them were subjected to repeated abuse, which took place over a long period of time and sometimes involved more than one defendant.

“Once again Operation Pallial and the prosecution team are indebted to the courage shown by the victims of these awful offences.

“Their fortitude in coming forward to report what happened to them has led to these convictions.

“Whilst the criminal justice process cannot put right the wrongs committed by these individuals, we hope that the victims will take some solace in knowing that their abusers have been brought to justice.

“We also hope it may comfort them to know that by their courage others may come forward and report crimes of this nature.”